Barcelona extended their 100% record in La Liga this season as they secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Getafe last night to make it seven wins in seven.
A first-half strike from Robert Lewandowski was enough for Barça to bag all three points against a compact Getafe team which was hard to break down.
Manager Hansi Flick has enjoyed a brilliant start to life as the head coach of Barcelona and following Wednesday night’s win, the German tactician praised the team’s mentality against Jose Bordalas’ side.
On Getafe and the performance
Coming into the game, Barça had been in a great goalscoring form, but managed only one against Getafe. Explaining the lack of goals, Flick said:
“We knew it would be difficult. The people at the club had told me it would be very close. They closed down the spaces well, but we fought for 95 minutes. We fought and we had a great mentality. I’m very proud of the fans, we needed them.”
About how Getafe set up defensively and made things difficult for his team, the Barcelona manager said:
“I’ve been told that it’s normal against Getafe, they’re a good defensive team. The team fought for 95 minutes. I’m proud of the team, they fought the whole game. I’m also proud of the fans who realised that we needed them.”
“They are very good in defence and they are compact. It’s not easy. Sometimes we don’t have the necessary speed. In the end we scored a goal to get the three points,” he added.
Discussing the overall performance of the team, the German head coach remarked: “We are working well and training hard. We are working on the idea of how we want to play.
“The players know how to play football, they know how to play in different positions and make the passes at the right time. Today we needed a solid defence and we were good.”
On the areas that they need to improve from last night’s match, Flick remarked: “When we analyse the match it will help us to improve. In the first half we had to increase our passing speed. It was good that the players came out with that mentality.”
Flick also addressed the fact that Barcelona are just one win away from achieving a record-start to the season equalling the run of eight victories set by Gerardo Martino’s Barça side in 2013/14, saying:
“When I started I didn’t know the record was eight wins. We just focus on what we have to do tomorrow in training. I don’t care about records and these things.”
On individual performances
Lewandowski continued his excellent start to the season with another goal against Getafe, taking his tally to seven and ekeing ahead in the Pichichi Trophy race. Flick was full of praise for the 36-year-old striker after the game, as he said:
“For me he is the best 9 of the last ten years. His job is to play in front of goal and score goals. He has players who assist him. He is fantastic in front of goal.
“I’m very happy and I’ve told the team that. Maybe we weren’t as sharp as in other games, but we fought. We have to recover and think about the next game.”
Last night saw Lamine Yamal drift a bit more centrally from his starting position on the right flank and the manager explained the reason behind the change in the youngster’s game, saying:
“He likes to play on the flanks and open, but in our game plan we knew that it would be very difficult to play down there and we showed them how to occupy the centre space. That’s why he played on the inside in some phases.”
On the teenager being targeted by opposition defenders, Flick insisted it was the job of the referees to protect the players.
“Protecting Lamine? That’s what the referees are for,” he said.
Flick was also full of praise for Barcelona defender Jules Kounde and even went on to call the Frenchman a leader, saying:
“Jules plays in the same position in the French national team. It’s unbelievable how he plays. His performance is very good. We don’t have to think about changing him.
“He loves to improve and increase the pace of training. He is a great fighter and gives everything. He’s a great leader.”
The Barcelona head coach also expressed his satisfaction at Eric Garcia’s performance in midfield after his sending-off against AS Monaco last week, as he said:
“I think he was very good. He’s doing well. After his sending off in Monaco he played in Villarreal. I’m satisfied with how everyone played and also for him.”
For the second game in a row, Ansu Fati went without minutes after having made his comeback in the Monaco clash. Explaining the situation, Flick said:
“Yes, he is at 100 per cent. But it was a very tough game and we decided that other players will play.”
The manager was also asked about the impending deal to sign Wojciech Szczesny, but refused to give anything away and only stated that he trusts Inaki Pena to do the job in Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s absence.
“I only talk about the players we have in the team. Inaki is our number one goalkeeper and I am happy with him. We have won and I am very happy,” said Flick.
On being asked why the Catalans have decided to bring in a new goalkeeper right away, Flick replied:
“Inaki is 25 years old and the others are very young. That’s why we are talking about bringing in another player. We’ll see what happens.”
Source: AS
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